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[stevep45]

I would like to introduce this topic knowing that there will be some confusion about my feelings/beliefs/ethics and even morality. This situation, I believe, is unique and new to some people so I am sure there will be many mixed responses and I welcome/encourage that and the learning accompanied by it .  To be honest, I am looking to find something in this post that will help me deal with the frustration, confusion and ignorance. For me this isn't group conflict/warfare, it is at its most basic level, discrimination based on inheritance at birth and not choice.
I have worked at UTEP for 9 years as a lecturer and I have two directors who are both lesbian. When I first began I embraced the newness of this situation, at least it was new for me. I truly value diversity and I will work hard to make sure that it exists in any workplace, but even more importantly to make sure it exists in higher ed. When I began, there were two homosexual women working as directors and as time went on 80% of our department were homosexual. I experienced lecturers/employees being hired based on their sexual orientation. I say this because many of our hirings were done under the guise of a committee. The committee made their recommendation and since our director had final say in the hiring, she/they would hire the person not recommended. The selected candidate was not only less qualified but also had no other justification in which the director could or would reveal. To the committees disappointment, our department became filled with faculty who were second or third tier. (I don't know why we used a committee, it was a facade for shared governance.) Anyhow, here is the kicker. I soon began experiencing promoting that was very homogeneous, you guessed it, homosexual.
I met with the director of EEOC and discovered the following, UTEP protects homosexuals from discrimination very much like the other federal EEOC laws do with age, race, sex, political affiliation etc. I think this is a great law to have, its humane, its fair and its needed in order to protect diversity. However at UTEP, heterosexuals have no protection from homosexuals. I asked the EEOC director " if homosexuals want to discriminate against me solely because I am heterosexual do I have any protection? To which she replied absolutely not".  I would not be writing this today if discrimination wasn't a problem based on sexual orientation at UTEP but it is. It's unfathomable for me to think that a group of people who have been persecuted for so long, who work in higher ed. and are supposedly educated discriminate openly based on sexual orientation.  There are a lot more dirty things involved in this, but I wanted to convey the gist of this issue.  I feel as though the more I pursue equality here, the more my career here becomes jeopardized. Its unhealthy here.

[dellaroux]

I am sorry to say that I do know of another situation in which this became a difficulty and resulted in the loss of several long-time, highly valued faculty and administrative staff.

The discrimination was not simply heterophobic, in fact, but even more specifically gendered, as well. In other words, for about 15 years, only females from the GLBT community were tenured and others (including several gay males) were forced out. Hetero females were also not welcomed. It was very strange, given that the original setting had been more open and affirming at the outset.

After the retirement of the three most visible faculty in this situation, things evened out, but the bloodbath was astounding to the surrounding community, including members of the wider GLBT community.

It set the institution back several decades in terms of funding, attendance and academic credibility: those retained for their orientation were unfortunately not always the best in their field (one historian in particular had some problems distinguishing philosophical pronouncements from historical fact, and tangled the records badly in a couple of cases).

[zharkov]

I asked the EEOC director " if homosexuals want to discriminate against me solely because I am heterosexual do I have any protection? To which she replied absolutely not". 

Perhaps a more complete answer should have been:  ....absolutely not in any way that I could or would help with.

Keep in mind that this director (a) works for the university, (b) represents the university's interests, not your's, (c) has a very focused responsibility in seeing that various laws and regs are adhered to, and so (d) is not about to move beyond some very specific guidelines to help you or to sympathize with your problems.

Now I'm not sure if you have an actual complaint or you were just asking hypothetically.  But after going though the process of talking to the university admins, and perhaps the union, the next step -- if a real problem -- is to consult a lawyer.

[stevep45]

Thanks Zharkov, there is not a union there. After meeting with the VP on this matter,  I did meet with a lawyer. A few in fact. Everyone of them stated that unless the violations related to race, color, religion, national origin, disability, or gender, that I was SOL in Texas.  Unfortunately, sexual orientation is only legally an issue in some states which have provisions for it.

[airball]

Thanks Zharkov, there is not a union there. After meeting with the VP on this matter,  I did meet with a lawyer. A few in fact. Everyone of them stated that unless the violations related to race, color, religion, national origin, disability, or gender, that I was SOL in Texas.  Unfortunately, sexual orientation is only legally an issue in some states which have provisions for it.

I can't imagine I'm the only one noting the irony that many of the same politicians who would be outraged by the practice you describe also would move heaven and earth to make it legal to discriminate based on sexual orientation.

airball

[stevep45]

Two words,  George Bush.

Sickening huh?

[slinger]

Unfortunately, sexual orientation is only legally an issue in some states which have provisions for it.

I too am in a state in which it is not illegal to discriminate against or fire someone for their sexual orientation.  In my former workplace, my direct supervisor/person who hired me was a middle-aged lesbian.  In the few years that I worked there, all three individuals in my department who quit/retired were all replaced by friends-of-the-boss who also happened to be middle-aged lesbians. 

In this case, I do believe it was more nepotism than heterophobia, but still.  You've got to hire the best PERSON for the job, regardless. 

[stevep45]

Thats interesting, one of the directors at UTEP hired 12 relatives over 10 years, two work there currently. What the hell is going on? I suppose I am partially responsible as I never did anything to organize/unionize.

[dellaroux]

Two words,  George Bush.

Sickening huh?

Wait.

George Bush is a heterophobic lesbian?

[ellaminnow]

Two words,  George Bush.

Sickening huh?

Wait.

George Bush is a heterophobic lesbian?

You didn't know that?  Duh. 

[adjunk]

I understand that you are concerned about how making waves will impact your career there.  Newsflash: you don't have a career there.  As a lecturer, you are exploited labor.  As a straight lecturer in a department with a decidedly heterophobic bent, you have no future there.  Get out while you still can.

[rear_view_mirror]

I sympathize with you. On the general subject of heterophobia, I know someone who thinks most heterosexual men are repressing their gayness, and loves to talk about it, whether or not you're interested.

It's unfathomable for me to think that a group of people who have been persecuted for so long, who work in higher ed. and are supposedly educated discriminate openly based on sexual orientation. 

Maybe these women see what they are doing as self-enacted affirmative action.